[Cricket] World Test XI

[Gwylan]

Chappell is now in and he pushes nervously at the first one and he’s not confident about the second ball either and that’s horrible, he barely moves his feet, poking nervously outside off and the next thing he sees is the ball safely in Hammond’s hands at first slip. One brings two and Gilchrist strides to the crease.

Australia 299-4 Chappell c Hammond b Larwood 0

 

[Gwylan]

Bradman looks to save the follow-on against Anderson and creams him to the extra cover boundary – that’s his 150. One more to save it: but it’s not off this ball, a hint of swing there and it’s Prior’s catch. That’s three in two overs and it’s a big, big wicket. England are ecstatic – half the team engulf Prior and half Anderson – that really was the one they wanted.

Australia 303-5 Bradman c Prior b Anderson 151

 

[Gwylan]

Australia have collapsed a bit here. Hayden is now joining Gilchrist at the wicket – if his head wasn’t hurting this morning, I bet it is now. Hayden scores one straight away, that’s the follow-on saved and Gilchrist shows his intentions by smashing the ball over mid-off, one bounce into the stands. Time for drinks.

Australia 308-5 (Hayden 10 Gilchrist 4, overs 84)

 

[Gwylan]

We’re back after drinks with Australia rocking a bit. Hayden squirts Larwood away for a single and Gilchrist flicks the ball to fine leg for another boundary. He gets right across his stumps to try the same shot but gets this all wrong and he’s bowled around his legs – that was a horrible shot and Australia are looking even rockier.

Australia 313-6 Gilchrist b Larwood 8

 

[jakarta]

Phew! Was getting rather worried there...

 

[Gwylan]

The Australian middle order hasn’t covered itself in glory – Ponting, Chappell and Gilchrist scored the grand total of 13 runs between them. Hayden and Miller have some rebuilding to do.
They set about the task with grim determination. Hayden plays out a maiden from Anderson and Miller, normally so free-flowing with the bat, blocks the first few deliveries from Larwood before pushing a single. Anderson is bowling well too and pitches one up that leaves him late. He mistimes this one, it’s aimed straight and flies uppishly into the covers, it lands safely though and take a single. Anderson over-pitches to Hayden who leans into it and strokes it to the mid-wicket boundary

Australia 319-6 (Hayden 15 Miller 2, overs 88)

 

[LlcoolJ]

Stirring stuff. Come on England.

 

[Gwylan]

That’s fast and short outside the off-stump: Miller has a slash, remembering the old adage – if you’re going to slash, slash hard. That flies past Gower at third slip and races over the boundary. And that’s short, directed at Miller. The batsman takes him on but gets in a real mess and it lobs towards the fine leg boundary – Underwood races from long leg to take the catch but just about gets a hand to it – to add insult to injury, he propels over the boundary on the full. Billy Bowden checks with third umpire Rudi Koetzen and signals a six. Larwood looks on in disgust.
Anderson is tighter against Hayden, although there’s a two wide of mid-on

Australia 331-6 (Hayden 17 Miller 12, overs 90)

 

[Gwylan]

There’s a change from the Nursery End, Botham is coming on. Miller leans on his bat and grins. Botham, Compton and Miller have formed quite a social club over this series and Miller looks like he’s going to enjoy this challenge. And he takes a wild swing at Botham’s first ball, which balloons over Prior’s head for four. He tries the same shot again, and it’s up in the air but falls between Underwood and Compton in the deep – they run two. Bradman appears on the balcony with a grim face – I’m not sure he approves of this frivolity when there’s a test to be saved. Miller seems to get the message and plays out the rest of the over.
Hayden scampers for a single off the first ball of Anderson’s over and Miller to take Jimmy on. He steps down the pitch and whacks it in the air, past the outstretched hand of Underwood (who’s getting quite a workout) and that’s a risky four.

Australia 343-6 (Hayden 18 Miller 22, overs 92)

 

[Gwylan]

Botham to Hayden – this is going to be more sensible. But not if Botham bowls there, it’s too short and Hayden clatters it to the square leg boundary. That’s a big outswinger and Hayden gets a bat on it and squirts it to third man for a single. Botham to Miller now and the batsman gives him the charge – that’s sailing high into the Pavilion for a massive six
Hayden plays Anderson with care, just taking the one single – we’re approaching tea and it’s safety first.

Australia 355-6 (Hayden 24 Miller 28, overs 94)

 

[Gwylan]

Botham bounds in to Hayden: the left hander helps it on its way and they run two, he pushes a single to mid-off and it’s Round 3 of Botham v Miller. Botham is on top here, that’s a big outswinger that Miller gropes for and this one comes back into him – too high for lbw though.
A bowling change at the Nursery End, Underwood is on and Hayden flicks it away for a single Miller tries to drive Underwood and that’s the Chinese cut down to fine leg – that’s the 50 partnership -the bowler doesn’t look happy. He looks even less happy when Miller swipes this through wide mid-off for another four.

Australia 367-6 (Hayden 28 Miller 36 overs 96)

 

[Gwylan]

Botham again to Hayden, who calmly plays out the maiden. Underwood to Miller – this is the last over before tea – and Miller takes it seriously, pushing a single wide of mid-on. That’s time for a cuppa.

Australia 368-6 (Hayden 28 Miller 37, overs 98)

 

[Gwylan]

It’s Botham who gets us away after tea and Miller is watchful against him, there’s just a single run down to third man. He’s not so careful against Underwood though and sweeps him fine for four.

Australia 371-6 (Hayden 28 Miller 42, overs 100)

 

[Gwylan]

Botham to Hayden. He blocks the first few balls before sending the ball flying through cow corner, into the stand. He bowls a no ball and Hayden scores two more. Underwood ties down Miller a bit but he pushes a two to long-on.

Australia 382-6 (Hayden 36 Miller 47, overs 102)

 

[Gwylan]

Botham to Hayden and that’s a maiden – all very straight and the batsman’s taking no chances. Underwood fires the ball into Miller and he’s not taking any chances either but steals the strike with a single to long leg.

Australia 383-6 (Hayden 36 Miller 48, overs 104

 

[jakarta]

Can Bill tell us what this partnership is worth so far?

 

[Gwylan]

Miller’s facing Botham now and that’s smashed away, over mid-wicket for a four and he smashes at that one too but it comes off the splice and goes high in the air – Prior’s underneath it and takes the catch comfortably – those who live by the sword …

Australia 388-7 (Miller c Prior b Botham 52) - a partnership of 75

 

[jakarta]

Miller’s facing Botham now and that’s smashed away, over mid-wicket for a four and he smashes at that one too but it comes off the splice and goes high in the air – Prior’s underneath it and takes the catch comfortably – those who live by the sword …

Australia 388-7 (Miller c Prior b Botham 52) - a partnership of 75

Make that can Bill tell us what that partnership WAS worth?

 

[Gwylan]

Warne’s in with Australia still a 116 behind, England will have a handy lead if they can get these last few wickets quickly. Warne’s not hanging around though and drives Botham through mid-off for two.
Hayden’s not in the mood to take any chances off Underwood, he runs the ball down for a single. Warne is in the mood though, he steps down the wicket and hammers a two.

Australia 395-7 (Hayden 37 Warne 4, overs 106)

 

[jakarta]

I don't like Warne as a batsman, he scores very quickly. Actually I don't like Warne full stop.